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I think the catholic view of this is a rather childish one.
If you want to go Disneyland (Heaven) then you must be good. If you aren't your going to get a time-out (Purgatory). And if you are really naughty you are permanently grounded (Hell).
Who doesn't want to go to Disneyland? Yet another tool by which to control you. More strings to make you dance.
If a Supreme Being exists and it created a flawed world so that you may expereince free-will then it must show more compassion than a Hell would imply he had. At least if it wants any kind of support/worship from me.
Consider: Joe Schmoe is born into this world a drug addict thanks to his crackhead mom. She loses him because she is unfit. Joe is taken care of by his drunk uncle who has a nasty tendency to sexually abuse him. Joe is not a very intellectual person due to his being a crack baby. Said crack baby is taunted and occassionally beaten by his peers. Joe eventually tries crack. It is a euphoric feeling he cannot resist. Being the only somewhat sustainable and controllable joy he has expereinced so far he becomes obsessed with perpetuating it. During one of his frequent crime spree's (to obtain money for the one thing that brings him pleasure) he is shot and killed by police.
Is Joe Evil? Does Joe diserve to go to a Hell?
It would seem the cards are just stacked against some people from the get go. And this is the work of compasionate loving God?
I either believe in some form of reincarnation, eternal peaceful nothingness, or something beyond my comprehension.
Any hell that exists is self imposed. If not then I say fuck God and the horse he rode in on. I'd rather rule in hell than serve in heaven.
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"All serious conversations gravitate towards philosophy."
-Ernest Dimnet
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